As a part of Homecoming 2014: Off the Charts, Illinois Wesleyan University will recognize the Alumni Award winners Oct. 18 at a luncheon at the Shirk Center.

Sean Parsons ’01 will be presented with the Robert M. Montgomery Outstanding Young Alumnus Award!

Named for a 1968 alumnus and former alumni director, the Robert M. Montgomery Outstanding Young Alumnus Award honors young alumni for outstanding professional achievement and/or civic leadership. Parsons, who studied musical composition at Illinois Wesleyan and later earned master’s degree in jazz studies, is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator. He received a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois.

As a jazz pianist, Parsons has performed at national and international music festivals and recently released his debut recording as a pianist and composer, Introduction. Now an assistant professor at Ohio University, Parsons previously served as a faculty member at Marshall University and as an adjunct professor of music at Illinois Wesleyan. He also served as jazz combo director for the 2011 South Dakota All-State Jazz Ensemble.

All honorees will be featured as “Back to College Classes” speakers during Homecoming weekend. Parsons will present “1959 in Jazz…It Was a Very Good Year” at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 18. All classes will be held in Beckman Auditorium at The Ames Library.

Congratulations, Sean!

Thank you for reading and contributing to your class newsletter.  I hope you enjoy receiving news about your classmates.  Be sure to let us know when you have news to share!

Homecoming is October 17-19.  Class years ending in 4 and 9 are reunion years.  Our theme this year is Off the Charts. We are focusing on the 150^th Anniversary of the School of Music, with many music themed events.  Join us on Friday night for the Green Carpet Gala Concert & Reception at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. On Saturday morning, the Titan Pep Band Alumni Reunion will take place on the Quad while you enjoy the free Pancake/Sausage Breakfast. Saturday night, join us in the Young Main Lounge for Club Tommy. Check the brochure or www.titanpride.org for more details. Please register soon!

I look forward to seeing you at Homecoming or another alumni event very soon.

Adriane Powell

Message from Ann Harding, Director of Alumni Relations

Thank you for reading and contributing to your class newsletter.  What a great way to build class loyalty and to stay connected.  Reading about each other is great, but coming back to homecoming is the BEST way to reconnect with IWU.

This year, homecoming is October 11-13.  You will be receiving the homecoming brochure in the mail very soon. Plus you can review all the details and get yourself registered on titanpride.org

Our theme this year is A Class Act.  I think you’ll see that everything we have planned this year will offer you a fun filled weekend with most activities free for everyone!!  Class years ending in 3 and 8 are reunion years.

Besides registering for homecoming; I have one more request of you.  I would like each of our 565 incoming first year students to have a welcome letter in their mail box when they arrive on August 20.   Would you please write a note and send it to me at 1001 N. Main St., Bloomington, IL  61702-2900?  Offer this new Titan a piece of advice, something to look for on campus or in the Bloomington Normal community or a fond memory you had of your first semester on campus. Be sure to sign it!  If you’re able, please make several copies of your letter. I need 565 letters!!!

Lastly, thanks to all of you who  made a gift to IWU this year.  I’m sure you have read President Wilson’s messages about the increased need for financial aid to attract the best and the brightest to fill our classes.  Without your generous support to the Wesleyan Fund, we will lose young people who really want to be a Titan, but need more help, financially.

My best~

Ann